Option #1

(With a Veggie Tales feel.)

The big fish swam back and forth searching for food. His tummy growled.

“I’m hungry. I need a BIG meal to fill my BIG belly,” he said.

Up above, the fish saw a splash and a strange creature floated down toward him. The fish drifted over to take a closer look, swimming in circles around it.

The creature opened its eyes wide and wiggled its arms and legs.

“That looks yummy,” thought the fish. “It’s bigger than a shrimp. It’s bigger than a lobster. It’s just the right size for my lunch.”

After making one more circle around his lunch, the fish opened his mouth wide and swallowed the whole creature in one gulp. He felt it wriggle all the way to his tummy. “Yum,” said the fish. He smiled. “Now it’s nap time.”

The fish sighed contentedly and closed his eyes to sleep. He could feel the creature squirming. Then he heard a voice cry out from way down inside his tummy. “God, this is Jonah,” it said. “Please help me!”

The fish’s eyes popped open.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t obey You,” Jonah said.

The fish’s tummy hurt—just a little.

“I didn’t want to go to Ninevah, but I should have,” Jonah said, “I should always obey You.”

The fish’s tummy ached.

“Please make this fish spit me out,” Jonah said.

The fish knew he should let his lunch go, but he didn’t want to. He pressed his lips together and dived to the bottom of the ocean to watch the octopus play.

“If you get me out of here, I promise I’ll tell all the people about You,” Jonah said.

The fish felt really sick now. He moaned in pain. “Do I have food poisoning?” he wondered. But he wouldn’t spit out his lunch. He floated to the surface for a deep breath and swayed back and forth in the water, trying not to throw up. He got sicker and sicker.

Near the end of the third day he spotted land. “I can’t stand any more pain,” he thought. “I think I’ll beach myself.” He swam over, gave one great push, and landed on the shore. When his tummy smacked the sand, he felt a big burp. The creature tumbled out onto the beach and jumped around praising the Lord. “I got myself into trouble and You got me out,” it shouted. “Thank you, Lord.”

The next wave lifted the whale and swept him back into the sea. He didn’t feel sick any more. He whirled in a circle and slapped his tail on the water. “I ate a bad lunch and You got it out!” he said. “Thank you, Lord.”

“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” (Proverbs 19:21 NLT)

Option #2

(The ACTion version.)

A leader reads the story aloud as he/she pantomimes the instructions written in italics.

Everyone in the group imitates the leader’s motions.

God sent Jonah to Ninevah (point into the distance) to warn the people (shake your finger) of that huge city to repent (put palms together and pray) and change their wickedness (wiggle your fingers atop your head like horns) or die. (pretend to stab your heart)

But Jonah did not want to go. (Cross your arms, shake your head, and frown.) He boarded a ship (grab two oars and row) traveling the opposite direction (Look back over your shoulder in the direction of Ninevah and frown. Then look ahead again and keep rowing.) He climbed down into the hold to take a nap. (Place your palms together, lay your head on them, and pretend to sleep.)

God did not like it. (Put your hands on your hips and look angry.) He flung a strong wind over the sea, (Make a throwing motion.) nearly sinking Jonah’s ship. (Bend your knees and sink slowly to the floor, looking desperate.)

In order to save their own lives, (Look worried, tremble, and point at yourself.) the sailors tossed Jonah into the sea. (Grab an imaginary Jonah and toss him overboard.) The storm stopped immediately. (Place your forefinger over your lips and look around with big eyes.)

Jonah sank deep into the water (Hold your nose and drop to the floor.) and a big fish swam up (Hold your arms behind you stiffly for fins and sway through the water.) and swallowed him whole. (Open your mouth wide and gobble up Jonah.)

For three days (Hold up three fingers.) and three nights (Hold up three fingers on the other hand.) he prayed for help. (Put your palms together and pretend to pray.)

Finally, (Wipe your hand across your forehead in a Whew! movement.) God told the fish to spit him out. (Hold your throat and pretend to spit and gag.)

Jonah was so happy. (Jump around laughing.) He walked all the way to Ninevah (Walk in place.) and warned the people to repent. (Shake your finger and look stern.)

And they did. (Fall to your knees and pray.)

So God spared their lives. (Leap around celebrating and throwing pretend confetti.)

Option #3

(A simple retelling.)

God said, “Jonah, get up and go to the great city of Ninevah! Tell them I have seen how wicked they are. If they don’t repent, I will punish them.”

Jonah looked toward Ninevah and frowned. Those people are evil. God should judge them, he thought. But He’s full of unfailing love. If I go warn them, they will repent and start worshiping Him—then He won’t destroy them. Jonah crossed his arms, pushed out his lower lip, and turned his back on Ninevah.

He walked toward the sea instead of crossing the desert to the city. At the port of Joppa he bought a ticket, boarded a ship, and climbed down into the hold to take a nap.

While Jonah slept, the Lord flung a powerful wind over the sea. It whipped up the water and terrified all the sailors. They pulled against the oars, trying to row ashore, but they couldn’t. They threw the cargo overboard. It didn’t help. Wild waves tossed the ship.

Finally, the captain woke Jonah so the sailors could cast lots to find out who had offended God and caused the storm. When the lot fell to Jonah, he hung his head in shame.

“This terrible storm is all my fault,” he admitted. “I am running away from the Lord. You better throw me overboard.”

“We don’t want to cause your death,” the sailors told him, and they tried even harder to row ashore. But the rain drove against their faces. Waves crashed over the sides of the ship. “We’re going to die!” shouted the sailors.

“If you throw me overboard,” Jonah said, “the storm will stop.” He felt hands grab his arms and legs as the sailors picked him up and tossed him into the air.

Jonah flew over the side of the ship and plunged into the cold sea. The storm stopped. Water closed over his head. He held his breath and churned his arms and legs, but he sank down, down to the heart of the sea. His lungs felt like they would burst. Swaying seaweed wrapped around him. He closed his eyes and tried to claw it away from his face. I have to breathe, he thought. I’m going to die.

Something bumped him. He opened his eyes to see a huge fish gliding past. It circled, then swam back toward him, it’s mouth a gaping black cave. Dear Lord, help me. I’m so sorry! Jonah prayed. He tried to take a breath, but he gulped in water and passed out.

He awoke, coughing and choking, in a dark cave that smelled of decaying fish. “Oh, Lord, am I dead?” He jumped at the sound of his own voice. “If I’m not dead, where am I?” The cave swayed sideways and Jonah reached out to steady himself. His hand sunk into the soft wall of the cave. He was inside the fish! It hadn’t killed him— it had saved his life! For now.

From his dark prison, Jonah cried out to the Lord. “Oh, Lord my God, you have snatched me from death!” Hours passed and he continued to praise the Lord and beg for help. Would the Lord rescue him? Give him another chance to warn the people of Ninevah?

“Only You can help me, Lord,” Jonah begged. “Please save me.”

Three days dragged by while Jonah called to the Lord. Not a single ray of light penetrated the darkness around him. Finally, the cave convulsed violently, and the fish spit Jonah onto a beach. Jonah laughed and cried and jumped up and down praising God.

Then God spoke again. “Get up and go to the great city of Ninevah, and deliver the message I have given you.”

God sent a fish to save my life when I disobeyed, thought Jonah. And He’s sending me to save the lives of the people of Ninevah.

Jonah traveled to the city and warned the people to stop their wickedness or die. They repented and God spared their lives. He used Jonah to save the lives of thousands.